It’s that time of year again – the coughing, sneezing and sniffling. But many cold medications you see in the store are labeled “not for people with diabetes.” So what’s a cold-sufferer to do?

The drugs that help reduce cold symptoms are cough medicines, antihistamines (which block allergic reactions) and decongestants. The cough medicines and antihistamines may make you very sleepy, says the American Diabetes Association (ADA). And the chemicals in decongestants make your blood vessels narrower – which may help your runny nose, but may cause serious problems if you have heart disease or poor circulation.

The best thing to do, according to the ADA, is to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for the aches, pains or fever; then get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Be sure to check your blood sugar often and be ready to respond to a rise in your blood sugar. Your health-care provider can also set you up with a sick-day plan, which will detail what to eat or drink, when to test your blood glucose and ketones, and when to call your provider for help.

Compiled from 101 Tips for Staying Healthy with Diabetes (and Avoiding Complications). Copyright by the American Diabetes Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved.